Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu has directed the creation of a Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) across all police commands in Nigeria, as part of sweeping reforms aimed at professionalising the force and improving its response to violent crime.
Punch had reported that the IGP directed the reduction of tactical teams across police formations nationwide as part of efforts to enhance supervision and address public complaints. Under the directive, all existing tactical teams are to be dissolved and merged into the new unified formation.
Implementation of the order has begun simultaneously across multiple states. In Rivers State, the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, announced that all disbanded tactical teams have been consolidated into a single, specialised formation known as the Violent Crime Response Unit, mandated to respond swiftly and decisively to incidents of violent crime while adhering to established rules of engagement and respect for fundamental human rights.
Daily Post Nigeria reports that in Abia State, the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, also dissolved all tactical teams and inaugurated a new set of officers who had been carefully screened by the command’s management team.
The Abia VCRU will be supported by a civilian oversight board comprising representatives from the traditional rulers council, human rights organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, and Amnesty International, among others.
In the FCT, the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, announced the directive at an emergency security meeting held on April 17 at the command headquarters. He stated that the newly established VCRU would be solely responsible for responding to violent crimes across Abuja, providing a more coordinated and effective framework for rapid response.
In Imo State, police authorities said the initiative is in direct alignment with the vision of the IGP to establish specialised and highly professional units capable of effectively combating violent crimes including kidnapping, terrorism, and armed robbery, while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and respect for human rights.
Across all commands, the IGP’s directive has been accompanied by a firm zero-tolerance stance on misconduct. Officers have been warned to desist from extortion, abuse of office, and other forms of misconduct, with police authorities stressing that any violation of the Nigeria Police Force Code of Conduct will attract strict disciplinary action.
